A break for the soul This year, Al-Ghouri Creativity Centre has chosen to celebrate Moulid Al-Nabi in an innovative way. Besides the mood of festivities the Egyptians are engaged in today celebrating the birth of Prophet Mohamed, the centre, for its part, is celebrating this religious occasion by holding a photography exhibit entitled Zafet Al-Moulid. The exhibition, which collected the photos taken by Nabil Bahgat over four years, depicts the various ways the moulid is celebrated in Egypt. Zafet Al-Moulid, which Bahgat 's photos illustrate in detail, is a ritual exercised by some Egyptians during which they gather in front of Al-Gaafari Mosque while holding flags. The parade passes by Al-Darassa, Al-Azhar and ends at Al-Hussein Mosque before sunset. The flags are taken down before inshad (religious chanting) and zikr (remembrance) are recited. (see Exhibitions p.3) photos: Ayman Barayez At the Manasterly Palace in Manial, a book signing ceremony was held to mark the launch of American author Michael Hamilton Morgan 's book, Lost History, which is about the immortal heritage of Muslim scientists and thinkers. The event was attended by publisher Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, head of the Documentary Department at the Bibiliotheca Alexandria Youssef Zeidan, Al-Ahram back page editor Mona Ragab, head of the Tahrir Innerwheel Club Gihan Halawa, Wafaa El-Ansari, as well as a number of researchers. At Al-Ghouri Creativity Centre, Morgan also delivered a lecture on his book last week. The Gabonese Ambassador to Egypt Joseph Mambongongo, in conjunction with other Gabonese diplomats, presided over a reception in honour of Jean Beng, the deputy prime minister of Gabon who was elected president of the African Union to succeed Alpha Omar Konare, the former president of Mali. Among those present at the reception were the ambassadors of Cameroon, Burundi, Niger, Guinea, Angola, Mali, Ivory Coast, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. At the Press Syndicate and under the auspices of head of the Egyptian Association of Cinema Critics and Writers Mamdouh El-Leithi, a ceremony was held to honour the 12- year-old talented Indian actor and director, Kishan Shrikanth, who starred and directed the film Street Children. The Indian Embassy Media Counsellor Rajesh Swami, its PR officer Ahmed Ibrahim, Al-Ahram journalist Samir Shehata and Kishan 's father were all present. Within the framework of reinforcing the Egyptian-Italian cultural ties, Italian Ambassador to Egypt Claudio Pacifico held a reception party, at the embassy in Garden City, in honour of Friends of The Egyptian Museum. Khaira Al-Fassi, wife of Moroccan Ambassador to Egypt Mohamed Farag Al-Dokali held a lunch banquet at her residence for the members of the International Club. The lunch featured a Moroccan fashion show attended, among others, by spouse of the Egyptian prime minister, Mona Nazif, as well as wife of the Minister of Finance Youssef Botros Ghali, spouse of the Minister of Housing and New Urban Development Ahmed El-Maghrabi, Saudi Ambassador's wife Amira Al-Nazer, as well as spouse of the German Ambassador, Maye Erbel. A few days ago, Australian Ambassador to Egypt Robert Bowker presented a cheque of AUD70,000 (approximately LE315,000) to the Association for the Development and Enhancement of Women (ADEW) to support a programme of activities in the field of women's legal rights. Activities will include issuing women with ID cards, which are necessary to access many government services; educating women on their legal rights and providing legal advice to selected cases. 2007 was the first year Egyptian NGOs were eligible to apply for funding from the Australian Human Rights Small Grants Scheme (HRSGS). In 2008, the HRSGS will fund 18 projects in 18 countries where Australia has diplomatic representation, including East Timor, Indonesia, Jordan and Sri Lanka. University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) in collaboration with the British Council held their annual Awards Ceremony at the InterContinental City Stars Hotel to recognise outstanding students from Egypt who achieved the best results in Cambridge examinations in the June 2007 exam session. From 22 students honoured at the ceremony, five were awarded special recognition for surpassing their peers in 120 countries and achieving top scores in the world in six subjects: accounting, business studies, Italian, English literature, chemistry and Arabic. Cambridge also has an annual tradition of honouring outstanding achievement whilst overcoming significant personal challenges. The Mustafa Amr Fayez Award has been given this year to Magdi Shahir El-Said ' from the International School of Choueifat . Guest of honour Jon Davies, deputy head of mission, Christine Daw, CIE's regional manager for the Middle East and North Africa, and Sally Goggin, the British Council's deputy director, were there to congratulate the exceptionally successful Egyptian students.
